Meet Faith & Hope
Faith and Hope are twin sisters currently residing in Charlotte, NC, the birthplace of ZEN, a creative studio nestled in the uptown area of Charlotte. Born to creativity and open-minded parents, both women credit their mother’s and father’s inextinguishable passion for entrepreneurship as the seed that was planted within themselves. “Our mother and father are dreamers who taught us to believe in a vision bigger than traditional employment.” stated Faith and Hope.
“They advised it was okay to sacrifice some of our time doing things to pay the bills, but we should never give up all of our time for someone else’s dream. We saw them work and make enough money to start their own ventures, some were successful, some they outgrew, and some were just what their communities needed at that time. I think what we learned from watching their experiences are: freedom is a choice and entrepreneurship is a type of freedom, create something to lift the spirit of the people who need it most, and don’t find work- find purpose instead,” stated Faith and Hope.
What problem does your brand solve?
Answer: Many desire to improve their lives, communities, and the world, but are often feel too small or inadequate to do so. Our brand delivers empowering perspective. It reminds individuals that positive change is a daily practice and all of us are capable of creating it. The MoaZen Jewelry website reads: “Founded by visionaries Faith & Hope, the brand encourages positive change through mindfulness, love, and daily action. Be it a gentle thought, an inspiring word, or a small act of genuine kindness- MoaZen Jewelry’s accessories remind us of our place in the world; and the power we have to change it for the better.”
Advice Worth its Weight in Gold
When asked about hindsight and something they would do differently, the answer is something every new business owner should hear, “We would advise ourselves to take the time to grow an authentic tribe. Marketing to everyone is exhausting. Taking the time to put your brand in front of the people who can truly identify with it, value, and appreciate it is everything”, stated Faith and Hope.
Do you have other hobbies?
Answer: Faith finds peace in planting and considers it an art form. Hope recently discovered she enjoys poetry in the form of Haikus; she writes them daily and will release them in a collection this summer.
What is one thing that keeps you up at night?
Answer: Art accessibility keeps us up at night. We believe in equal access to inspiration yet so many communities of color are deprived of quality art experiences due to lack of funding and politics. Art has been such a powerful force in our lives and we would like to see more children of color have opportunities to explore it as a career path.
Who is one girl boss in which you look up to, and why?
Answer: We admire the business practices of Rihanna and so much of her philanthropy is done privately. She is the queen of diversifying her income and complacency just isn’t on her radar. It isn’t on ours either.
What is one piece of advice you have for other women wanting to take a leap and start a business of their own?
Answer: Throwing money at it alone is not the answer; you have to take action. Here are some we recommend: Write it down it. Make it real. Put in the work. Have order. Discipline yourself. Be professional. Safeguard your ideas with copyrights and trademarks, no one wants to put in the work and lose it all. Lastly, make a path for the women coming after you. Even if you don’t recognize it someone made the path for you.
